Cicero gives the fourth and final of the Catiline Orations.

CiceroCatiline Orations

Fourth Council of Toledo takes place.

Fourth Council of Toledo

Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona is assassinated.

Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona

Emir Edigu of Golden Horde reaches Moscow.

EdiguGolden Horde

Pope Innocent VIII issues the Summis desiderantes affectibus, a papal bull that deputizes Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany.

Pope Innocent VIIISummis desiderantes affectibusPapal bullHeinrich KramerJacob Sprenger

Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to set foot on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic).

Christopher ColumbusHispaniolaHaitiDominican Republic

King Manuel I of Portugal issues a decree ordering the expulsion of "heretics" from the country.

Manuel I of Portugal

Charles IX becomes king of France.

Charles IX of France

Seven Years' War: Battle of Leuthen - Frederick II of Prussia leads Prussian forces to a decisive victory over Austrian forces under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine.

Seven Years' WarBattle of LeuthenFrederick II of PrussiaPrussiaPrince Charles Alexander of Lorraine

In London, auctioneer James Christie holds his first sale.

James Christie (auctioneer)

At Fort Ticonderoga, Henry Knox begins his historic transport of artillery to Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Fort TiconderogaHenry KnoxNoble train of artilleryCambridge, Massachusetts

Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams takes his seat in the House of Representatives.

John Quincy AdamsUnited States House of Representatives

Jefferson Davis is elected to the U.S. Senate.

Jefferson Davis

California Gold Rush: In a message to the United States Congress, U.S. President James K. Polk confirms that large amounts of gold had been discovered in California.

California Gold RushUnited States CongressJames K. PolkCalifornia

Chincha Islands War: Peru allies with Chile against Spain.

Chincha Islands WarPeruChile

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow was destroyed on orders from Joseph Stalin.

Cathedral of Christ the SaviourMoscowJoseph Stalin

German-born Swiss physicist Albert Einstein is granted an American visa.

PhysicistAlbert EinsteinVisa (document)

The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified.

Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution

Abyssinia Crisis: Italian troops attack Wal Wal in Abyssinia, taking four days to capture the city.

Abyssinia CrisisKingdom of ItalyEthiopia

The Soviet Union adopts a new constitution and the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic is established as a full Union Republic of the USSR.

Soviet Union1936 Soviet ConstitutionKirghiz Soviet Socialist RepublicRepublics of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

World War II: In the Battle of Moscow, Georgy Zhukov launches a massive Soviet counter-attack against the German army.

World War IIBattle of MoscowGeorgy Zhukov

World War II: Great Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary and Romania.

Romania

World War II: Allied air forces begin attacking Germany's secret weapons bases in Operation Crossbow.

Operation Crossbow

Great Smog: A cold fog descends upon London, combining with air pollution and killing at least 12,000 in the weeks and months that follow.

Great Smog

The American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merge and form the AFL-CIO.

American Federation of LaborCongress of Industrial OrganizationsAFL-CIO

E. D. Nixon and Rosa Parks lead the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

E. D. NixonRosa ParksMontgomery Bus Boycott

Subscriber Trunk Dialling (STD) is inaugurated in the United Kingdom by Queen Elizabeth II when she speaks to the Lord Provost in a call from Bristol to Edinburgh.

Subscriber trunk diallingElizabeth IILord ProvostBristolEdinburgh

The Preston By-pass, the UK's first stretch of motorway, opens to traffic for the first time. (It is now part of the M6 and M55 motorways.)

Preston By-passMotorwayM6 motorwayM55 motorway

Vietnam War: For his heroism in battle earlier in the year, Captain Roger Donlon is awarded the first Medal of Honor of the war.

Vietnam WarRoger DonlonMedal of Honor

Lloyd J. Old discovered the first linkage between the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and disease—mouse leukemia—opening the way for the recognition of the importance of the MHC in the immune response.

Lloyd J. OldMajor histocompatibility complex